April 23 marks the birthday of one of our idols, Roy Orbison, who would be 74 if he were alive today. Roy ruled the rockabilly 60’s with his hits “Crying”, “Only the Lonely,” “Oh, Pretty Woman” etc. Elvis described Roy as “The greatest singer in the world.” Bob Dylan said Roy “was an opera singer but didn’t know it.” We were lucky to see Roy when his career was on the downside, in a funky intimate club in Peoria, Illinois. He barely spoke or moved when he sang, but his touching voice brought tears to your eyes. In the 80’s David Lynch’s movie “ Blue Velvet” prominently featured Roy’s astonishing song “In Dreams” and resurrected his career. He died of a heart attack in 1988 at the too-young age of 52.
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Loooooooooooved Roy Orbison! “Crying’ is one of the best songs ever, and the version that K. D. Lang did was absolutely amazing. This huge talent was definitely gone too soon. RIP Roy, your music will never die.
john delorean “Got It”………….
I completely agree with you, Janet! Roy Orbison was such a great talent. What a voice! And what a songwriter. His passing was a huge loss. 🙁
My favorite singer of all time! The horrible “GaGa” could take lessons from him on how to be a “singer-songerwriter”!! His music and voice is without compitition and he is the idol of most other musicians of any talent and class because they honor and respect his great talent. A talent like his is timeless and will live forever because the songs are not gimmicks such as GaGa’s are. If she wants to be talked of and listened to long after she is gone she better sit up and take notice of what makes a classic because the crap she is turning out is only a sideshow joke and akin to the kind of thing peopl stare at on the side of the road.
Bring back ROY ORBISON!!!!
A great voice silenced, sosad. He had a pure God-given voice and it is a shame that these so-called good voices now are not good at all, they are just covered up by loud accoustics and sound systems. Examples are: Gaga, Britney, yada yada yada.
Another fabulous voice, and still with us… a favorite of the Beatles and Stones and most great bands: Leonard Cohen! Great singer-songwriter who blows me away with his poetic writings and his stellar vocal ability. Today’s new crop of cookie cutter stamped out “talent” can’t and never will hold a candle to the likes of a Cohen or Orbison! These talents have talent without all the mechanics to obliterate their voices and hide the flaws like todays so-called performers do. It’s a real shame that we are getting cheated by today’s “talent” with this bogus habit of using machines to hide behind and manufacture them a “real” voice! Let’s hear today’s “stars” come out and “sing live” and THEN I’ll respect them.
Those are my words exactly Reta. Let the talent speak for it self.
You got that right about the cookie cutter talent in Nashville. They sure are cranking out a whole lotta garbage.
Wonder if the Grand Ole Opry is going to pull a couple of hayseed outlaws out of the sticks and make them stars.
Like Waylon Jennings… Some guys with raspy voices and scruffy looks and a wicked case of BO.
Even my 93 yr. old father loved Roy’s music. “Oh, Pretty Woman & A Black & White Night” were, and for me, still are the best.
Many thanks to his widow Barbara
Roy and Dad: Rest in Peace